Archive for June, 2011

Wednesday was the hotly anticipated opening of the second section of the High Line, which added more than 10 extra blocks to the elevated park. The addition runs from 20th to 30th street along 10th ave, which actually doubles the existing park. But, perhaps the best addition is the Lot at 30th Street, which is a temporary public plaza underneath the northern entrance to the park and includes the new Colicchio & Sons “Lot on Tap” beer garden.

This new beer garden boasts domestic wines, non-alcoholic sodas and local beers – even featuring a beer made exclusively for Lot on Tap by the Brooklyn Brewery, called Brooklyn High Line Elevated Wheat. Drink prices are enough to keep away your alcoholic Uncle Charlie, but just right for New York’s young and fabulous with a beer costing $7 and wine $9.

You can tell that the Lot wants to keep the historical feel of the High Line as the Lot on Tap bar is flanked by the original girders of the High Line and both bars and some benchs and tables are actually made out of the original High Line beams that were removed during the building of the park.

Along with the drinks, the Lot on 30th has a rotating series of food trucks, including lobster rolls from Red Hook Lobster, dumplings from Rickshaw, and ice cream sandwiches from CoolHaus.

Additionally, next to the Lot on Tap there is an open area currently housing “Rainbow City” presented by AOL that is an open area filled in with colorful, inflatable balloons and moon bounces.

Rainbow City

The lot will be open seven days a week with food and drink available from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

After having a few brews, head out and enjoy the newest section of the High Line. Don’t be surprised if someone with a robotic voice starts giving you life advice while you are at the drinking fountains. Thats right, the drinking fountains talk as a sound piece of public art by Julianne Swartz called “Digital Empathy.” Its gonna be a hot summer, so be sure to stay hydrated. And who doesn’t like some free advice while they sip from a fountain?